Adjustable graph



May 14, 1968 R. M. MITCHELL ADJUSTABLE GRAPH Filed Jan. 12, 1966 INVENTOR. ROBERT M. MITCHELL United States Patent 3,382,590 ADJUSTABLE GRAPH Robert M. Mitchell, 6183 Stetson Place, San Diego, Calif. 92122 Filed Jan. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 536,252 4 Claims. (Cl. 3524) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable bar graph, each bar consisting of an endless loop of tape threaded through a plurality of slots on a mounting sheet to form parallel bar indicators, the mounting slots being staggered to permit adjacent mounting of the tapes, the tapes being of equal length for ease, simplicity and economy in production and a removable scale having a tongue portion for sliding between the mounting member and the endless loops of tape.

The present invention relates to an adjustable graph and more particularly to an adjustable graph having a removable scale.

Prior art adjustable graphs have been plagued with two main disadvantages. The first disadvantage is the lack of a convenient means for changing the scale behind the graph to effect a different presentation. The second main disadvantage lay in the difiiculty encountered in adjusting individual bar indicators when they are substantially adjacent or superimposed.

According to the invention an adjustable graph is pro vided having a fiat mounting member for mounting strips of tape thereon, each strip constituting one individual bar or bar portion of graph. The strips are threaded through slots and the ends of each strip joined to form endless loops of tape. The slots are vertically staggered to eliminate any possibility of overlapping of adjacent tapes. Each loop can have a plurality of colors, e.g., black and transparent, one or more indicating the amplitude of any one parameter of the data being portrayed. If desired, a plurality of loops may be superimposed, having clear or transparent portions to show two or more parameters on one bar. Each loop may be provided with a tab on its back portion for facilitating an easy adjustment. A scale member, which is preferably constructed of a flat sheet, has one scale printed thereon along one border and another scale at a right angle thereto along another border thereof. The scale member is then preferably cut along top, bottom and right borders, leaving a center tongue which can be conveniently slipped under the tape loops on the front side of the assembly. The borders of the scale member will cover up the slots through which the endless loops are threaded.

More than one center tongue can be cut in any one scale member, disposed vertically and/or horizontally.

A further novel feature of the present invention is the implementation of the slots through which the endless loops are threaded. These are preferably stamped as small rectangular slots on two opposite sides of the mounting member and bent backwards into a semi-loop defining a smooth curved surface on which the tape loops will ride, reducing friction, eliminating excessive wear and preventing creasing of the loops.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved adjustable graph.

Another object is to provide an adjustable graph in which adjacent bars cannot override one another.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable graph in which superimposed bars cannot slip laterally with respect to each other.

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Still another object is to provide an adjustable graph with an easily changeable so'ale.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable graph utilizing endless loops of tape for data presentation in which the tape is subjected to a minimum of friction and creasing.

A still further object is to provide an adjust-able graph which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection With the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a face view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 without a frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention without a frame, taken from the opposite side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting member of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a graph is shown having a frame 11, a. scale 12, and a plurality of bars 13 with a color division of identifying pattern at 14. Bars 13 are grouped at 16 and 17 with a space 18 there between. Graph 12 has a vertical scale 19 and a horizontal scale 21.

Referring to FIG. 2, frame 11 has been eliminated exposing a mounting member 22 having a plurality of top mounting slots 23 and 26 cooperating with a second plurality of bottom mounting slots 24 and 27. A plurality of tapes are mounted or threaded through mounting slots 26 and 27, adjacent tapes being threaded through mounting slots 23 and 24.

Scale member 12 has a border section 31 and a scale section 32. Scale section 32 is a tongue portion fabricated by cutting along top border 33, right border 34, and bottom border 36. Scale section 32 is dimensioned for being slideably received between tape loops 13 and mounting member 22. Scale member 12 has a vertical scale 19 and horizontal data markings 21. These scales can be reversed, of course, i.e., scale 19 can be horizontal and scale 21 can be vertical.

Referring to FIG. 3, the back of mounting member 22 is shown in perspective having tape loops 13 and a plurality of top mounting slots 23 and 26, cooperating with bottom mounting slots 24 and 27 respectively. Each of the mounting slots has a rounded bent back portion 41 which is rolled back from the mounting slot cutouts to impart-a smooth curved surface for sliding tape loops 13 thereon.

Referring to FIG. 4, an end view is shown of mounting member 22 having a plurality of curved surfaces 41 extending toward the back of mounting member 22 from slots 23, 24, 26 and 27.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, in assembly the strips 13 are first threaded through mounting slots 23, 24, 26 and 27. The mounting slots are staggered to obviate the possibility of adjacent tape loops becoming overlapped, particularly during adjustment. After assembling the tape loops 13 on mounting member 22, a scale sheet 12 is chosen having the proper data of interest printed or written thereon at 19 and 21. The scale portion 32 is then separated from the border portion 12 and inserted between the endless tape loops 13 and mounting member 22. Border portion 12 then overlies the extremities of tape loops 13 and mounting member 22 hiding mounting slots 23, 24, 26 and 27. If desired, the entire assembly can then be inserted within a suitable holding means such as frame 11 (FIG. 1). As will be appreciated, more than one tape loop can be threaded through any cooperating pair of mounting slots superimposing two or more for a multiple presentation on one particular bar. The tape loops can be grouped as shown in FIG. 1 or spaced in any manner desired due to the novel layout of the mounting slots.

Mounting member 22 can be constructed of cardboard, metal or plastic, according to the desires of the user. Scale member 12 is preferably constructed of a heavy paper, but can also be constructed of a pliable plastic or other suitable materials.

The scale sheet 12 is not limited to being cut so as to form one scale and one border only. A plurality of data presentations on one sheet may be achieved by cutting the scale sheet to form a plurality of scale tongue portions which may be disposed horizontally or vertically or both.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only .a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An adjustable graph comprising:

a fiat mounting member having a plurality of first mounting slots therein and a plurality of second mounting slots spacially disposed from said plurality of first mounting slots, said plurality of first mounting slots and said plurality of second mounting slots each defining a pattern in substantially parallel relationship to each other;

a plurality of indicating loops threaded through said plurality of first and second mounting slots in parallel relationship; and

a removable scale having at least one scale portion positioned between said plurality of indicating loops and said mounting member.

2. The adjustable graph of claim 1 wherein said plurality of first and second mounting slots each include a smooth curved surface extending therefrpm, said plurality of indicating loops riding thereon.

3. The adjustable graph of claim 1 wherein said indicating loops are of equal length and said plurality of first and second mounting slots are spacially staggered to facilitate a minimum of spacing between adjacent indicating loops.

4. The adjustable graph of claim 1 wherein said at least one scale portion comprises at least one rectangular section being cut along three sides to form at least one tongue portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,767 8/1926 Conover 35-24.4 2,317,043 4/1943 Eyman 35-76 XR 2,664,648 1/1954 Young 3524.4

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

